Math for every learner. Impact in every classroom.
When students do math, they learn math—and IM is making that possible in classrooms across the country.
IMpact at IM: Research-Driven, Classroom-Proven
Our research priorities boil down to one essential question:
Are students learning to know, use, and enjoy mathematics?
To answer it, we focus on two key areas:
- The impact of IM Certified curricula on student achievement
- The impact of IM Certified curricula on student identity, mindset, and confidence in math
Curriculum Design Rooted in Research
Explore the research behind IM Certified curricula
IMpact in the News
Third-grade math scores are up. PPS says improving attendance is the next big step
Pittsburgh school leaders say maintaining strides in third-grade math proficiency will require increased monitoring of classroom lessons and a greater emphasis on school attendance.
After a $45 million math curriculum overhaul, Philadelphia sees results
Philadelphia students’ average scores on state math tests have reached their highest rate in nine years, marking a significant recovery from pandemic-era learning loss.
Historic Los Angeles Testing Gains Lift Even the Lowest-Performing Schools
Two weeks into the new school year, Principal Sherree Lewis-DeVaughn eagerly showed off improvements to 135th Elementary School, where she’s been principal since 2022.
Real-World IMpact
Across the country, districts using IM Certified curricula are seeing students engage more deeply, teachers teach with greater confidence, and classrooms transform into spaces where all learners can thrive. These stories show what happens when students experience math as sense-making—not just following procedures, but thinking, talking, and reasoning their way through it.
IMpact Studies
IM-Authored Case Studies
Greeley-Evans School District 6
This case study takes you inside Greeley-Evans’ journey—featuring candid conversations with teachers, leaders, and students as they implemented IM® K–5 Math from Imagine Learning, an IM Certified partner. See how thoughtful planning and strong collaboration are making a real impact on teaching and learning.
Homer Plessy Community Schools
At Homer Plessy Community Schools, the decision to adopt IM® 6–8 Math wasn’t just about a program—it was about creating access, voice, and confidence for every student. In this case study, educators share how IM’s problem-based approach is changing how their students experience math.
Des Moines Public Schools is an exemplar of what it looks like when the IM Classroom model is fully realized. See how IM® 9–12 Math is helping DMPS build a math culture where students think deeply, teachers feel supported, and success is shared.
With an unwavering belief that every child is college-bound, Downtown College Prep (DCP) creates environments that nurture students with a sense of belonging. In this case study, DCP shares why their decision to adopt IM® 6–8 Math was integral to their school district’s vision of providing high-quality instruction that meets the needs of all students.
By prioritizing teacher collaboration, professional learning, and IM’s rigorous curriculum, Green Dot Public Schools is setting students up for long-term success. See how Green Dot and IM are transforming math instruction by giving students consistent, meaningful opportunities to do the math—and own their learning.
We Want to Hear From You!
What Educators Say About IM
Bringing joy and ownership to math learning
— Wendy Battee, Math and Science Instructional Specialist, New York City Public Schools
Curriculum that truly reflects the standards
— Isaac Rodenberg, District High School Math Curriculum Coordinator, Des Moines, IA
Creating positive learning environments
— Heather Schacher, Math Department Chair at Ánimo Watts, Green Dot Public Schools, Los Angeles, CA
Driving IMpact Through Implementation Research
This article discusses the benefits of using a shared observational tool—IM’s Implementation Reflection Tool (IRT)—to help educational leaders and teachers make sustained changes in practice that positively impact instruction.
Shifting from a “PD mindset”—focused on sporadic learning events not tied to a larger vision—to a “professional learning mindset” centered on shared growth opportunities and the ability for educators to integrate what they’ve learned is key to achieving lasting change in instructional practices.
Based on interviews with educators from four districts implementing IM Math, this study highlights how the curriculum’s instructional model—featuring collaborative, real-world problem-solving and structured mathematical discourse—led to meaningful shifts in classroom practice. Educators reported increased student engagement, stronger achievement in math, and a lasting appreciation for problem-based instruction.
The authors highlight the interdisciplinary nature of mathematics education, emphasizing the need for expertise from both the fields of mathematics and education. They point to Illustrative Mathematics as a model organization that fosters such collaboration, bringing together professionals from both fields to enhance the teaching and learning of mathematics.
Professional Learning that Reflects Our Belief
- Teachers leave with tools to support deeper learning through doing.
- Students explore math collaboratively and joyfully, building confidence and understanding along the way.
IM MathLab Teacher Reflections
Research Collaborators
At Illustrative Mathematics, we invite independent researchers to measure our impact. Our collaborators conduct rigorous research studies on IM’s curriculum and professional learning. This evidence-based approach helps ensure that the belief guiding our work—students learn math by doing math—translates into meaningful outcomes for teachers and students alike.
If you are a research institution interested in collaboration, please email us at [email protected].
JOIN THE IM RESEARCH COMMUNITY
Grounded in Best Practices for Effective Mathematics Education
IM’s rigorous, standards-aligned K–12 curricula are expert-authored and rooted in well-respected pedagogy and methodology, meeting all expectations for focus, coherence, rigor, mathematical practices, and usability, according to EdReports.
Educators Recognize IM as a Trusted Leader in Math Education
Top 5 in Math Content Providers
Top 4 in Name Recognition
Top 2 Attributes: Innovative and Trustworthy
Dig Deeper into IM’s IMpact—Explore Our Annual Reports
Explore the milestones, stories, and collective achievements that showcase IM’s ongoing commitment to creating a world where all learners know, use, and enjoy mathematics.
Ready to see the IMpact IM Math can have on your students?
Let’s talk about what’s possible—student success starts with an IMpactful math experience!
